Ex-Springboks Launch ‘Heyneke Must Fall’ Campaign

Two former Test captains, Wynand Claassen and Divan Serfontein, are drumming up support among old Springboks, provincial players and supporters to bring down Rugby World Cup coach Heyneke Meyer.

The pair, in an unprecedented move to end Meyer’s tenure as Springbok coach, on Friday circulated a hard-hitting letter under a heading “Heyneke Must Fall” among dozens of former Springboks. Claassen and Serfontein have called for concerted action to ensure that Meyer’s four-year contract is not renewed when the SA Rugby Union (SARU) executive meets early next month after the Springboks finished in third place at the Rugby World Cup.

“Let us stand together and fight for change in South African rugby so that we, as loyal South Africans, can again be proud and that players get the opportunities to develop, thrive and to wear the Springbok jersey with pride,” the two said.

“There is no doubt that SA rugby is on the decline, if one looks at the performances of the Springbok team over the last four years.

“One out of eight victories over the All Blacks in the last four years, tell the whole sorry tale.

“After Heyneke Meyer took over as Springbok coach at the end of 2011, he said that the people must judge him after the 2015 World Cup. Well, the tournament had come and gone and now is the time to judge him.”